Manage ecological fund, not FG — Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advocated the management of funds for ecological challenges in the country by states and not the Federal Government in Abuja.

Diri expressed worry that people who know little or nothing about state’s ecological problems managed the funds in Abuja.

Governor Diri spoke in Government House, Yenagoa, when he hosted members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary,  Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as expressing appreciation to the committee for the visit, saying Bayelsa State needed sufficient ecological funds given its numerous environmental challenges. 

He described the ecological committee of the House of Reps as germane to Bayelsa given the fact that the state was below sea level and had many ecological problems. 

He said: “These ecological issues are actually in the states but ecological funds are in the centre and managed by people who do not know anything about the ecological problems. So when we talk about the ecological problems we have in our states they do not understand.”

Earlier, chairman of the House committee on Ecological Fund, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim, said they were in the state as part of their oversight function with a view to seeking areas of partnership with the state government.